If you are looking for a travisher, here is another fantastic option: Allan Williams, a chairmaker and toolmaker who makes three kinds of travishers.
Recently I ordered two travishers from Allan, a standard one with a 4-1/2″-radius blade and a tighter-radius tool (3″) for fixing student mistakes and doing some work at the back edge of my seats.
Allan’s are based on the travishers made popular by Claire Minihan and Peter Galbert. Claire and Peter’s tool is the travisher I have used for more than a decade, and I have ridden it to Australia and back. I’m also fond of the travishers made (also on the Minihan/Galbert pattern) by Elia Bizzari and crew. All these travishers usually require quite a wait to get (though they are worth it.)
Now you have a third great option with Allan’s travishers. They are made to a very high standard. They arrive insanely sharp. And they work as well as any travisher I’ve ever used.
If you make regular-head stick chairs, the 4-1/2″-radius tool is all you need. If you want to explore some tight or shallow curves, Allan offers tools for that.
My only slight complaint is that the blades in Allan’s travishers are secured with Allen-head screws (makes sense when you think of it). I prefer slotted screws because I always have a #8 screwdriver on the bench. I will swap those screws out during my next trip to the hardware store. No big deal.
Otherwise, I recommend Allan’s tools with no reservation. They are fantastic tools that will last the rest of your chairmaking life.
— Christopher Schwarz
P.S. I also recommend the travishers from James Mursell at Windsor Workshops, but those require a separate blog entry to explain fully….
I’m looking forward to that separate blog entry on Windsor Workshops travishers. I have made one stick chair (thanks for the patch). I will be making more stick chairs (and one old style teacher chair by request) in the future. In my inexperience, I wonder if the travisher is vital to my endeavor?
I’ve used Alan’s travishers for years and agree with everything you said and more. They are such a joy to use.
Both of mine need repair. They are old and the sole in front of the cuter is wood and worn down to the point where they take way to big a bite and flips the tool out of my fingers. After that happens once or twice you need to stop because it hurts the fingers. I am thinking I can add a brass plate as the sloe. Or just buy a new one. I need to figure it out before a start a new chair.
Thanks for that I will have a look. I just bought Elia’s travisher and I’m waiting for James to arrive soon.
Thanks for your kind words Chris. My travishers are a joy to make and share, but the greatest thrill by far is seeing the beautiful chairs people are making with them. I’m with you on loving James’s travishers. I have one of his black deluxe travisher and it’s basically replaced my scorp for softwood seat roughing. It’s a amazingly efficient tool! In short order I’m ready to refine the seat with one of my travishers.
Thanks again Chris!
Claire Minihan did a wonderful video on making a travisher and spokeshave. I made one of each a while back, and it was a lot of fun.
I have no idea if it’s still available, or if it can even be found at that morass of a magazine, but I recommend it.
I managed to buy and download that video this month, but it took a few efforts and patience.
I have two in walnut. I highly recommend them if you are a chair maker.
I just got the blades and brass plates from Elia and look forward to making the pair.
I agree. I’ve been using one of Allan’s travishers for 4 years and I love it.